4 quick ways to create more white space in your calendar (so you have time to think, breathe and lead!)
And the great news is, when you do, you have more of a chance at getting your skills, talents and achievements seen and recognised (hello, promotions and opportunities!) PLUS, you’ll feel far less exhausted!
Mid career professionals are employed as leaders to think, not just do.
Unfortunately, many leader’s calendars are overflowing with tasks, back-to-back meetings and inboxes full of emails. Despite sometimes working nights and weekends in an effort to stay on top of things, they never seem to catch up. They are time poor and exhausted.
When you’re busy, it can be easy to think that you can’t invite white space into your calendar. But you can!
Here’s 4 easy ways you can create more white space in your calendar, today!
One – Delegate
If you lead a team you have them for a reason, so utilise them! It’s not your job to do Busy Bee work, it’s your job to do Queen Bee work. Having white space allows you to do this!
Consider who you have on your team, what their strengths and interests are, and what tasks/meetings/opportunities you can hand over to them.
Two – Say no
As a leader, you don’t have to say yes to every request that crosses your path. In fact, a leader stands in her power, assesses how doing said task may or may not add value to the organisation, and makes a considered decision from there.
Saying no doesn’t make you weak or incapable, it establishes you as an authority!
Three – Prioritise
It can be easy to want to do everything and ‘close all the tabs’ at the end of the work day/week but the simple fact of the matter is, the work will never be over.
Prioritising what is most important will support you to stay focussed on the work that truly matters and supports the growth of your team, your organisation and your career.
Four – Carve out time
Once you’ve gotten into a rhythm delegating, saying no and prioritising, you can create some white space in your calendar and carve out time to work on bigger and more strategic projects (the ones that get you recognised for the leader you truly are!)
This space will allow you to get your creative juices flowing, solve problems and create new and innovative ideas that will make you stand out in the crowd and put you in a position of power.
Make this time a non-negotiable and treat it with the respect it deserves!
Want to dive deeper into this topic (and so much more!)?
In my free training, The Next Level: A 14 Minute Crash Course In How To Breakthrough To The Next Level Of Leadership, Impact and Recognition, I teach mid career professional women, like you, how to breakthrough to their next level of leadership, impact and recognition quickly and easily.
You’ll walk away with practical and tangible steps that you can implement straight away that will support you to create even more white space, move from doing to leading, and be seen as an authority in your workplace.
Click below to…
Similar Blog Posts
Why we must talk about menopause…
Let’s talk menopause
Yes! I’m going there.
Why? Because your ability to lead effectively and confidently relies on you being at your best – both physically and mentally.
Jane Benston
New year, New Job, New You
You’ve had time to reflect over the summer break and you’ve come to the decision that a new job is on your list of goals for the year. Good for you!
Perhaps you’re looking for greater job satisfaction, more money, better corporate culture, more variety, more flexibility, a leader who inspires you or to have a greater impact. Whatever the reason… you know that it’s going to take time and energy.
Jane Benston
Reflect, review and reset
There is no doubt that this is a very busy time of the year. There are the projects to complete, end of year functions to attend, shops to navigate and the odd family drama to attend to.
I am sure you don’t need me to add anything more to your long “to do” list.
Jane Benston